Chapter 17: In The Name Of Love
"Hello Raoul." Christine replied to his icy greeting. He had appeared in one of the two windows, probably watching her arrival from the ledge.
Christine was suddenly frightened, the room smelled strongly of brandy, and there was a fire in Raouls that was not the same as Erik's sensual passion.
"You said you wanted to talk, speak." She said with false confidence. She kept her distance well away from him. She tilted her head downwards, her black hat covering the look of fear in her eyes.
Rail chucked in a drunken manner. "Christine, you silly girl, why are you so trusting?"
"I'm not trusting, I just feel great love and adoration for the man that you threaten to kill." Christine spat at him, hatred pulsing through her veins, giving her unknown courage.
Raoul advanced towards her, and Christine realized for the very first time that he was barely wearing anything, no shirt, just trousers. His shoulder length blonde hair was tangled and dark circles inhabited the skin under his eyes, which were blood-shot and watery. This was not Raoul her childhood friend, this was not the man she had gone to for comfort, this was not the man that her father had approved of.
Christine tried to ignore his closeness and pushed on. "Raoul, I'm here to tell you that I want a divorce, and to never see you again." She tried not to be intimidated, but it oozed out from her voice uncontrollably. It was a moment in which her heart felt it was about to burst from her stomach, when she realized that Raoul's breath could be felt on her face. She instantly regretted opening the letter, why was she so damn childish?
Raoul put a hand on her shoulder, holding her more tightly than Christine felt comfortable with.
"Will you please remove your hand, sir." Christine hissed, prying his rough fingers from her delicate shoulder. She succeeded and moved away swiftly before he processed what she had done. Christine found that his drunkenness could be to her advantage, if she was careful.
Anger and revenge, however, was stronger than alcohol.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Erik followed Christian through the garden, he marveled at the giant elephant and what it would be like to seduce Christine inside, but he soon snapped back to reality and the problem at hand.
Christian pushed through the gates under the dead windmill which was usually alive and bright with lights. But without Christine, the world was darker, if that were possible.
"This way. "Christian motioned for Erik to follow down a dark ally lined with women willing to sell their love for survival.
Twice, a desperate creature would grab Erik's arm, begging him to love her. He shook them off, memories of Christine made him feel slightly guilty.
"Pease Christine, please be strong." Erik whispered, almost laughing at how foolish she was.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Christine was beginning to wonder if this had honestly been cruel fate that brought her Raoul.
She went over the past hour in her mind.
"It's simple Christine, sleep with me," He had begun to stroke her neck, slowly, making Christine want to retch. "and I won't give the word for the men surrounding the Moulin Rouge to ambush the cellars." His hands had slid over her shoulders.
"You wouldn't." She had spat on his face.
That was when he grabbed her. He forced his lips forcefully onto hers, his tongue made it's way disgustingly into her mouth. His hands were wrapped around her wrists. He took a belt and fastened her right wrist to the bed post, then her left. He slapped her until she was limp and helpless. He took a dagger and slit the laces on her dress. She started crying hysterically as Raoul felt her breasts with his hands and mouth.
"Get off of me you sick asshole!" Christine got enough energy to scream at him, but all he did was kick her.
"That is not how you talk to your husband!" Raoul slapped her again. "You will be mine Christine, and you will tell everyone why I was gone."
Christine grinned. "Yes, I will, I'll tell everyone about you and your whore."
Raoul slapped her again, and slit the laces on her corset and then her garters.
And now Christine was waiting, waiting for the unbelievable pain to take over her body, the guilt to take over her mind.
The pain never came, the guilt never came.
She opened her eyes as she felt the belts loosen, and collapsed into Erik's arms. The last thing she saw was those eyes. The eyes that were hurt and angry, the eyes she kissed before she gave up to the darkness.
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Erik saw the look in Raoul's eyes when he looked up through the window where he had seen a shadow and saw the shadow of his past.
The look was pure terror.
And then…he ran.
Erik tried to cut him off, wanted to kill him, but he was gone when he found Christine, half dead, strapped to the bed.
"Christian, help me." Erik quickly undid one of the belts and Christian the other. She opened her beautiful eyes and looked up at him. Then she kissed his eyes and he took her in his arms. Erik took up a sheet to cover her body, which was red and the skin slightly torn. Her hair was damp and muscles tense.
He sank down to the floor with her in his arms.
"Oh Christine, my angel, my poor, poor angel." His tears fell onto her eyes.
"Erik, we need to go, men are coming over here, and Toulouse isn't succeeding in distracting them." Christian came in from the ledge. He grabbed Christine's clothes to hide evidence that she was ever there, the last thing they needed was for the press to get involved.
Erik nodded and stood, supporting Christine's spent body.
What if he had never made it on time?
